One of ancient history's most infamous characters, Nero rose to power in his mid-teens following the death of Claudius, his adoptive father. To speed things along he had Britannicus poisoned and in league with his mother Agrippina had had Claudius poisoned as well. His next few years were fairly unremarkable one way or the other largely in part because of Agrippina's overbearing influence. He corrected the problem, however, by having her executed on the pretext that she had a unfavorable view of Poppaea, his new mistress. Because he was already married to a certain Octavia he had her exiled and murdered...

Drusus was an able and widely admired general and privately favored by Augustus as his successor. However, he died from an accident leaving his brother Tiberius as the most eligible candidate. He was also the father of the future emperor Claudius.   AU Aureus (Posthumous) RIC 71 (Claudius), BMC 100 (Claudius), Vagi 487, C 3 Aureus Obv: NEROCLAVDIVSDRVSVSGERMANICVSIMP - Laureate head left. Rev: No legend - Triumphal arch reading DE GERMANIS; statue of Claudius riding horse left and two trophies above. 41-45 (Rome). $5,771 12/5/02. AR Denarius (Posthumous) RIC 70 (Claudius),...

Livia was the mother of Tiberius and grandmother of Claudius. She married at the age of 15 and was forced to get a divorce a year or two later to marry Octavian instead. After her death at 87 she was consecrated by Claudius. AE Dupondius (Posthumous) RIC 43 (Tiberius), BMC 98, C 1 Dupondius Obv: PIETAS - Veiled bust right. Rev: DRVSVSCAESARTIAVGVSTIFTRPOTITER - Large SC. $800 1/16/02. RIC 46 (Tiberius), BMC 79, C 4 Dupondius Obv: IVSTITIA - Diademed, draped bust right. Rev: TICAESARDIVIAVGFAVGTRPOTXXIIII - Large SC. RIC 47 (Tiberius), C 5 Dupondius Obv: SALVSAVGVSTA - Diademed,...

Britannicus was the son of Claudius and presumptive heir to the throne until Agrippina showed up with her own son Nero. Between the two they plotted to eliminate Britannicus and managed to poison him just like they had his father.   AE Sestertius (Posthumous) RIC unlisted, BMC 226 (Claudius) & 306 (Titus), C 2 Sestertius Obv: TICLAVDIVSCAESARAVGFBRITANNICVS - Bare-headed, draped bust left. Rev: No legend - Mars advancing left, holding spear and shield. c.50-54 (Rome). $8,600 9/24/03.  

Daughter of Augustus and mother of Claudius. AU Aureus (Posthumous) RIC 65 (Claudius), BMC 109 (Claudius), Vagi 499, C 1 Aureus Obv: ANTONIAAVGVSTA - Draped bust right, wearing crown of grain ears. Rev: CONSTANTIAEAVGVSTI - Constantia standing, facing, holding torch and cornucopia. c.41-45 (Rome).   RIC 67 (Claudius), BMC 112 (Claudius), Vagi 500, C 4 Aureus Obv: ANTONIAAVGVSTA - Draped bust right, wearing crown of grain ears. Rev: SACERDOSDIVIAVGVSTI - Two lit torches with garland draped across. c.41-45 (Rome). $8,148 12/5/02.   AR Denarius (Posthumous) RIC...

Mother of Nero. Infamous for treachery and desire for power, Agrippina married the emperor Claudius and was involved in a number of political moves worthy of her own daytime soap opera. It is suspected she got rid of Claudius, after removing other potential rivals, by feeding him poisoned mushrooms. She did this as much to ensure her son Nero would succeed him as much as to place herself at the upper crust of Rome's powerbrokers. Nero himself grew wary of her ways and eventually had her murdered. AU Aureus RIC 1 (Nero), BMC 6, Vagi 656, C 6 Aureus Obv: AGRIPPAVGDIVICLAVDNERONISCAESMATER - Confronted...